Sewing machine



Dec; 21, 1943. J. HICKEY 2,337,193

SEWING MACHINE Filed Dec. 1, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor James Hickey Attorneys Dec. 21, 1943. HICKEY 0 2,337,193

SEWING MACHINE Filed Dec. 1, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 21, 1943. H|KEY 2,337,193

smwme MACHINE Filed Dec. 1, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor James [fickey Attorzzezp Dec. 21, 1943. J HlCKEY 2,337,193

SEWING MACHINE Filed Dec. 1, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l Z a t y 8 Fly. 7

5 Inventor 0/ James Hickey MW. j

n v l I 7 F196 I 11 Attorh e95 Patented Dec. 21, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEWING MACHINE James Hickey, Portland, Oreg, Application December 1, 1941, Serial No. 421,090

8 Claims. (Cl. 112-260) This invention relates to conventional Sewing machines, and, especially, to sewing machines of the folding type in which the machine rests on top of a table or cabinet while being used, but is so attached that it can be lowered beneath the table, or inside of the cabinet, out of the way, when not being used.

In conventional sewing machines, whether of the folding on non-folding type, there is a bed plate over which the work or material passes during the sewing and which ordinarily is mounted so as to be practically even with the top of the table, or top of the sewing cabinet, or other working surface, while the sewing machine is in operation. The difiiculty with the ordinary sewing machine, with the bed plate so arranged, however, is that the machine cannot be used to sew tubular articles, except possibly those of very large size. While special machines are made for sewing or darm'ng material in tubular form, such as sleeves, stockings, and the like, this work cannot be done on the ordinary sewing machine, since, as mentioned above, the flat bed plate is even with the top of the table or cabinet and the fiat working surface of bed plate and table top is fairly large. n the other hand, for ordinary sewing of flat piece goods, it is desirable to have this flat, fairly broad, bed plate and working surface.

An object of this invention is to provide a mounting for a sewing machine which will permit the machine, when so desired, to be raised and to be supported above the top or working surface of the table or cabinet.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sewing machine construction having a fiat bed plate of ordinary size but so arranged that a substantial portion may be removed, and having a smaller suitable housing below the bed plate to protect the material from the shaft and bobbin, etc., and to furnish a suitable working surface for tubular materials.

A further object of this invention is to provide an adjustable mounting for a machine of the folding type which will readily permit the machine to be raised above the top surface of the table or cabinet as above mentioned and will also permit the machine to be dropped down entirely below the surface when the machine is to be folded or placed out of the way.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved sewing machine construction for the purpose mentioned and of the type indicated which will be simple, practical and comparatively inexpensive.

The manner in which these and incidental objects are attained through my invention will be brought out in the following brief description in which reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sewing machine embodying my invention, the machine being shown in its normal working position on top of its supporting table or cabinet and with the bed plate in a position for ordinary fiat-piece sewing;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the sewing machine illustrating the machine in raised position and with the main portion of the bed plate removed, enabling the machlne to be used for sewing or darning tubular goods;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the machine and a fragmentary transverse section of the supporting table top, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, showing the machine in the normal working position; i

Figure 4 is an end elevation similar to Figure ,3 but showing the machine in raised position corresponding to Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional plan view of the machine in raised position, corresponding to the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an inverted plan view of the sewing machine of Figure 1, drawn to a larger scale, showing the machine itself and its supporting brackets as entirely removed from the table or cabinet top; and

Figure '7 is a plan view and Figure 8 an end elevation of the guard plate or needle plate member, which is placed on the machine when the bed plate has been removed and the machine is to be used in its raised position.

The machine illustrated includes the usual head standard d (Figure I) mounted on a flat base or bed plate e, the main portion f Of the bed plate however being removable. The machine, in ordinary use, is supported on the top a of the machine cabinet, the top a having the conventional hinged leaf b which can be lifted in order to permit the machine to be lowered below the top and into the machine cabinet when not in use. When the machine is in ordinary position illustrated in Figure 1, the bed plate and removable portion f rest in the ledges a and b (Figure 3) formed in the adjacent edges of the cabinet top a and hinged-leaf b respectively. The machine is attached to the cabinet top by a special hinged bracket, to be described later, which permits the machine to be dropped down below the cabinet top and also permits the machine to be raised above the top into position shown in Figures 2 and 4.

The drive shaft for the bobbin, the bobbin itself, and part of the usual cloth-feeding unit, all of which are located below the usual bed plate of the ordinary sewing machine, in my invention are enclosed in a special elongated tubular housing it (see Figure 6) which is rigidly attached at one end to the bottom of the Plate below the head standard d. The top of this housing h is flattened slightly and the flattened portion h (Figure 5) lies in a plane parallel to the plate e and at the same level as the under surface of the plate c and thus extends just below the removable portion f of the bed plate.

The removable portion 1 of the bed plate carries a pair of ears 9 (Figure 1) which engage the top of the remaining fixed portion, and the section f also carries a loop q on its underside (Figure 6) which fits around the tubular housing It and enables the removable portion f of the bed plate to be slid ofi or onto the tubular housing h when the machine is in the raised position of Figures 2 and 4. The ears 9 and loop q thus hold the section I in position at all times when the machine is in normal position or when it is folded down below the top surface of the table or cabinet, but permit easy removal of the section I of the bed plate. The removable portion f of the bed plate carries the customary needle plate J" (Figure 1) which may itself be removably mounted, in any desired manner, on the section I.

The tubular housing It is cut away below the sewing machine needle and needle plate 1' and about the usual cloth-feeding mechanism, and the cloth feeders extend a slight distance upwardly through a pair of parallel slots provided in the needle plate I in the usual manner. When the machine is used in raised position with the bed plate portion ,1 entirely removed, a separate, specially-formed substitute needle plate member s (Figures 7 and 8) is placed on the housing It over the cut-away section. This needle plate member s is preferably shaped so as to partly encompass the housing It and is flattened at the top, as shown at s in Figure 8, to correspond with' the fiat portion h of the tubular housing h. One side 1- of this member s, extends part way around the housing It, while the other side is cut ofi to facilitate snapping the member into place on the housing, the ends of the top portion s engaging the edges of the cut-out portion at the top. A flat top plate-t is attached to the member s and preferably extends along the top of the housing beyond the member s as shown in Figures 7 and 2. A needle clearance hole it extends through the top plate t and top portion s. While slots may be provided inthe member s and plate t to accommodate the cloth-feeding means, should it be desired to use cloth-feeding means when the machine is in raised position, I consider it preferable not-to use the cloth-feeding means when the machine is in raised position, but to dispense with the same in such cases, in the manner generally provided in sewing machines which are also adapted to be used for darning. Consequently I have not shown such slots inthe top plate 1. in Figure 7. I have found that when the machine is to be used for tubular materials, it is generally for the purpose of darning such materials in which case no cloth-feeding means is necessary.

An important feature of my device is the special hinge bracket and associated means by which the machine is attached to the top of the supporting table or cabinet and which enables its position to be adjusted thereon. The hinge bracket includes a U-shaped member 0 (see Figure 6 and also Figures 3 and 4), the ends of which are formed with small loops or eyes 0 which in turn are pivotally mounted or journaled in the underside of the table top a. The U-shaped member 0 preferably extends for a considerable length at the side of the machine, as shown in Figure 6, so as to provide a substantial supporting means. At the end of the member 0 adjacent the standard (1, and thus adjacent the heaviest part of the machine, a rectangular loop-shaped bracket arm I is firmly attached as shown at m and m in Figure 6. This bracket arm I has two parallel sections which extend across and beneath the machine and are connected at their other ends by the portion n. Two legs 2', i extend downwardly from the bottom of. the bedplate e at the operator's side of the machine, and these legs 1', i are hinged to the parallel sections of the bracket arm I by means of the rod 1' extending through the bracket arm and legs. A U-shaped locking bar 7' is hinged to the loop-shaped bracket arm I at the opposite or rear side of the machine. The legs of the locking bar j extend upwardlyv through openings 10 (Figure 5) in the bedplate and are made with sufiicient spring tension to tend to keep them forced apart and away from each other, and thus bearing againstiopposite ends of the openings p as shown in Figure 5. Each of these legs of the locking bar has two locking notches k and k along its engaging edge to engage the ends of the openings p in the bedplate e for the purpose of holding the bedplate and machine in locked position with respect to the bracket arm I. Figure 3 shows the bedplate e and bracket arm I held in one position with respect to each other by the engagement of the bedplate e and lower pair of notches k, and Figure 4 shows the bedplate e held in the other position withrespect to the bracket arm I by engagement with the upper pair of notches k. The adjustment from one position to the other is easily made by forcing the legs of the locking barj towards each other to permit disengagement with either pair of locking notches. Ordinarily the bedplate e is engaged by the lower pair of locking notches It.

When the sewing machine, which has been .folded down and out of the way, is to be used for ordinary sewing, the hinged leaf b of the table or cabinet top is raised and the machine is swung up on its hinged bracket. The leaf b is dropped back and the machine is then set on a table or cabinet top and the leaf in the usual manner and as shown in Figures 3 and 1. When the machine is to be used for sewing or darning tubular materials, the machine is grasped by its head or standard and tilted backward, and the leaf b of the table top is raised slightly to permit the end of the bracket arm 1 to clear the leaf b and then bebrought to rest in the ledge b of the leaf b. Next, the notches k of the legs of the locking bar are disengaged from the bedplate e and the machine is tilted forward until the bedplate becomes horizontal and the upper notches k are engaged. The machine will now be in the position shown in Figure 4. The removable portion 1 of the bedplate is then slipped oif and substitute needle plate member s is placed in position on the tubular housing 12. The machine, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 5, is now ready for use on tubular material and such tubular material can very easily be slipped over the end of the tubular housing It and manipulated thereon.

The shape of the housing It and the fact that the machine is in raised position facilitates the use of the machine for the tubular material in the manner described. the heaviest part of the machine, and since this is supported, when the machine is in raised position, on the substantial or comparatively widely spaced legs i, i and, at the opposite side, on the widely-spaced legs of the locking bar 1, my machine will be found to rest solidly in the raised position without requiring any support for the opposite end or any further supporting means attached to the machine or to the other end of the housing h.

When the machine is to be placed back into normal position, or is to be folded down into the cabinet, the procedure is the opposite to that just described, namely, the substitute needle plate member s is removed, the bedplate portion 1 is slid onto the machine, and the bedplate e is lowered to the notches k of the locking bar 7'.

It would be possible to modify the particular form and construction of the various elements in my invention and thus make modifications in housing h, substitute needle plate s, and the supporting hinge bracket, without departing from the principle of my invention, and it is not my intention to limit my invention otherwise than as set forth in the claims: However, I believe the simple form of my invention, substantially as illustrated, will be found preferable and most practical for ordinary purposes.

Iclaim:

1. In a sewing machine of the folding type including a table top having a cut out portion, a hinge bracket connecting said machine with said table top, said bracket attached to said table top adjacent one side of said machine, said bracket having a member adapted to extend across said out out portion below said machine, a pair of supporting legs connecting said machine to said bracket at one side of said machine, a pair of longer supporting legs connecting said machine to said bracket at the other side of said machine,

means associated with said latter mentioned legs for adjusting the position of that side of said machine with respect to said bracket, whereby said machine can be raised above said table top by lifting said bracket and adjusting said latter mentioned legs.

2. In a sewing machine, a table top having a cut out portion, a hinged leaf in said table top adjacent one side of said out out portion, a hinge bracket connecting said machine with said table top, said bracket attached to said table top at one side of said out out portion, said bracket having a portion extending transversely below said machine of sufiicient length to rest on said leaf on the opposite side of said out out portion when said machine is in one position, a pair of supporting legs hin'gedly connecting said machine to said bracket at one side of said machine, a pair of longer supporting legs connecting said machine to said bracket at the other side of said machine, means associated with said latter mentioned legs for adjusting the position of that side of said machine with respect to said bracket, whereby when the free end of said bracket rests on said Since the standard (I is said machine will'be positioned for sewing above said table top.

3. A sewing machine of the character described including a machine head, a table top, a hinge bracket connecting said machine head with said table top, said bracket having a portion extending transversely below said machine head, a pair of supporting legs connecting said machine to said bracket at one side of said machine, a pair of longer supporting legs connecting said machine head to said bracket at the other side of said machine, means associated with said latter mentioned legs for adjusting the position of that side of said machine head with respect to said bracket, whereby said machine can be raised above said table top by lifting said bracket and adjusting said latter mentioned legs, a bed plate, means for supporting said machine head with said bed plate approximately level with said table top when said latter mentioned legs are adjusted to one position, and means for supporting said bracket; and therewith said machine head, with said latter mentioned legs adjusted to another position, whereby to raise said bed plate above said table top, a portion of said bed plate being removable, a housing extending longitudinally of said machine, the top of said housing so arranged as to serve as a sewing surface when said bed plate portion is removed, one end of said housing attached to said machine head, the other end of said housing extending below the machine needle and being free to permit tubular material to be slipped over said housing, whereby said machine may be used for tubular material by removing said portionof said bed plate and raising said machine above said table top.

4. A sewing machine of the folding type including a table top having a cut out portion, a hinge bracket connecting said machine with said table top, said bracket attached to said table top at one side of said cut out portion, said bracket having a portion adapted to extend across said out out portion below said machine, a pair of supporting legs connecting said machine to said bracket atone side of said machine, a pair of longer supporting legs connecting said machine to said bracket at the other side of said machine, means associated with said latter mentioned legs for adjusting the position of that side of said machine with respect to said bracket, whereby said machine can be raised above said table top by lifting said bracket and adjusting said latter mentioned legs, means for supporting said machine head -with said bed plate approximately level with said table top when said latter mentioned legs are adjusted to one position, and means for supporting the free end of said bracket, and therewith said machine head, with said latter mentioned legs adjusted to another position, whereby to raise said bed plate above said table top, a portion of said bed plate being removable, a tubular housing extending below said bed plate longitudinally of said machine, one end only of said housing attached to said machine,

leaf and said latter mentioned legs are adjusted,

the other end of said housing extending about the bobbin below the machine needle and being free to permit tubular material to be slipped over said housing, whereby said machine may be used for tubular material by removing said portion of said bed plate and raising said machine above said table top.

5. A sewing machine of the folding type as described including in combination a machine head, a table top having a cut out portion, a hinged leaf in said table top adjacent one side of said cut out portion, a hinge bracket connecting said machine head with said table top, said bracket attached to the underside of said table top adjacent one side of said machine head, said bracket having a portion extending transversely below said machine head of sufficient length to rest on said leaf on the opposite side of said cutout portion when said machine head is in one position, a pair of supporting legs hingedly-connecting said machine head to said bracket at one side of said machine, a pair of longer supporting legs connecting said machine head to said bracket at the other side of said machine, means associated with said latter mentioned legs for adjusting the position of that side of said machine head with respect to said bracket, whereby when the free end of said bracket rests on said leaf and said latter mentioned legs are adjusted, said machine will be positioned for sewing above said table top, a bed plate on said machine, a substantial portion of said bed plate being removable, ahousing extending longitudinally of said machine, the top of said housing so arranged as to serve as a sewing surface when said bed plate portion is removed, said housing attached at one end to the base of said machine and projecting horizontally from the base of said machine, the other end of said housing being free, whereby tubular material may be slipped over the free end of said housing, whereby said machine may be used for tubular material by removing said portion of said bed plate and raising said machine head above said table top.

6. The combination described in 'claim 4 with the top of said housing being flattened slightly and so constructed as to serve as a limited sewing surface in place of said bed plate when the removable portion of said bed plate is removed, a cut out portion in the top of said housing below the needle of said machine, and a detachable needle plate fitting on said housing over said out out portion.

7. In a sewing machine of the folding type as described, including a machine head, and a table top having a cut out portion, a hinge bracket connecting said machine head with said table top adapted to enable said machine head to be swung below sai table top when not in use, a removable horizontal bed plate on said machine, a tubular housing extending horizontally below said bed plate, said housing having a flattened top portion adapted to flt against the under side of said removable bed plate, whereby the top of said housing will serve as a sewing surface when said bed plate is removed, one end of said housing attached to said machine head, the other end of said housing extending about the bobbin below the machine needle, means for holding said bracket raised above the normal position and adjustable means attached to said bracket cooperating with said first-mentioned means to support said machine head and therewith said tubular housing raised above said normal sewing position, whereby said machine may be used for tubular material by removing said portion of said bed plate and raising said machine above said table top.

8. The combination described in claim 7 with the addition of a cut out portion in the flattened top portion of said housing below the needle of said machine and a detachable needle plate fitting on said housing over said out out portion, said detachable plate having sections extending part way around said housing on both sides of said cut out portion, whereby said plate and said sections may be snapped into place on said housing.

JAMES HICKEY. 

